diff --git a/utils/monitor_disk_usage.py b/utils/monitor_disk_usage.py
index fe931c915..a115d6908 100755
--- a/utils/monitor_disk_usage.py
+++ b/utils/monitor_disk_usage.py
@@ -13,17 +13,18 @@ def main():
     output = df.communicate()[0]
     device, size, used, available, percent, mountpoint = output.split("\n")[1].split()
     hostname = socket.gethostname()
-
-    if int(percent) > 95:
+    percent = int(percent.strip('%'))
+    
+    if percent > 95:
         requests.post(
                 "https://api.mailgun.net/v2/%s/messages" % settings.MAILGUN_SERVER_NAME,
                 auth=("api", settings.MAILGUN_ACCESS_KEY),
                 data={"from": "NewsBlur Monitor: %s <admin@%s.newsblur.com>" % (hostname, hostname),
                       "to": [settings.ADMINS[0][1]],
-                      "subject": "%s hit %s%% disk usage!" % (hostname, int(percent)),
+                      "subject": "%s hit %s%% disk usage!" % (hostname, percent),
                       "text": "Usage on %s: %s" % (hostname, output)})
     else:
-        print " ---> Disk usage is fine: %s / %s%% used" % (hostname, int(percent))
+        print " ---> Disk usage is fine: %s / %s%% used" % (hostname, percent)
         
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     main()